Latin America

Probably the most profitable colony in the world; sugar and coffee
Enlightenment + French Revolution leads to unrest and MASSIVE slave rebellion
Toussaint L'Ouverture took control of a slave revolt against the French
Eventually defeated armies of three foreign powers to earn independence (Spain, France, GB) and created a conservative government
Only successful slave revolt in history and the first Latin American country to gain independence
But the war destroyed infrastructure and world forced Haiti to pay large indemnity (and ignored for trade)
To bay back their indemnities, they had to take huge loans from American, German, and French banks and by 1900 Haiti was spending about 80% of its national budget on loan payments
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Up to 40,000 slaves were brought over per year
Haiti accounted for more than ⅓ of the entire Atlantic slave trade
Condition for slaves were horrendous
The Average life expectancy for a slave was 21 years

Creole (rich), he led a revolt in Venezuela in 1810 (during napoleonic wars)
Wealthy, but not a very good military leader
Eventually became president of a new nation: Gran Colombia as well as dictator of Peru
Bolivia was named for Bolivar in honor of the successful independence movements he led there
Nicknamed “The Liberator”
Bolivar believed the people should have a constitutional government and supported liberal ideas (although he believed in lifelong presidency), this let to a clash with other leaders in South America
Bolivar wants to make Venezuela like the us of South America

Creole, he fought against the Spanish in S. America
Born in S. America but educated in Spain and lived there for a while
Had been fighting in the Napoleonic Wars in Europe (for Spain) when Revolutions began
Left Spain because he was being treated unfairly in Spain, OR he wants to help Argentina, OR wants fame for himself
Skilled military leader, he would declare independence for Argentina and Chile, influence that of Paraguay and Peru
Met with Bolivar and after that meeting he left and went back to Europe
San Martin wanted to set up Absolute Monarchies in the newly freed territories

Member of the Portuguese ruling family who moved to Brazil during the Napoleonic Wars (Peninsular War)
Was left to rule after his parents returned to rule Portugal
The people of Brazil asked for independence and Dom Pedro granted it to them, he became Pedro I: Emperor of Brazil
This was the only peaceful revolution in Latin America Independence
Liberal for a man in his position, but only to a certain point and he rejected a liberal constitution
Eventually clashes between liberals and conservatives force Pedro I to step down and return to Portugal

Catholic Priest, Creole, Actually cared about poor people
When Napoleon put his brother on the throne of Spain, revolutions break out throughout South America
Gives a big speech, Grito de Dolores, on Sept 16, 1810
“My children will you be free? Will you make the effort to recover from the hated Spanish the lands stolen from your forefathers”
Credited with starting Mexican Independence movement
His army was made up of of violently angry Indian peasants against upper-class Mexicans (kind of a race war)
Native and mixed race people outnumbered whites 10-1
wasn’t a good general
only about 1000 of his ~80k men had firearms
was eventually betrayed and executed

Lower class mixed race, but well educated in Enlightenment Ideas (to a modern day 9th grade level)
Took over the revolt after Hidalgo's death, wanting independence and a democratic government
Also in favor of taxing wealthy, land reform (take land from rich, give to poor), and ending slavery
More effective general than Hidalgo (smaller disciplined army, forbid looting)
Briefly set up liberal Congress, became head of executive branch, refused permanent title and called himself "Servant of the Nation"
Like Hidalgo, he was eventually captured and executed
“May slavery be banished forever together with the distinction between castes (social classes)… so Americans may only be distinguished by vice and virtue (good and bad deeds)”
Advocated for a social revolution, changing class systems + etc., not just political like the US

Fought for Spanish against independence movement
Did not want social reform (creole)
In 1820 Spanish government changed and Iturbide feared losing privileges, so he became a leader in independence movement
Skilled general won independence by Treaty of Cordoba
Made 3 promises that gained support of conservatives*
Proclaimed himself emperor Agustin I, he was corrupt and got chased away, when the government got more conservative he tried to come back but was executed

*Three Guarantees (Freedom, Religion, Union)

Mexico struggles with tension between liberals and conservatives, (wealthy land-owners) politicians and popular liberals (mostly promising land reform) - when popular liberals took over they often ruled as caudillos (military dictators)
By 1824 all of Latin America was free from European rule except Cuba and Puerto Rico
The Monroe Doctrine by President Monroe was written to warn Europe to not colonize the Americas
Liberals and conservatives continued to have conflict: Caudillos ruled in many areas and took away basic freedoms